community in Massachusetts
Honey bee forage in West Falmouth, Massachusetts
Estimated forage here is better than about 80% of sites in Massachusetts. Against other Massachusetts sites it stands out most in fall (93rd percentile) and lowest in spring (66th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 3.0 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sweet corn (nearest 3.6 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in West Falmouth?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of West Falmouth, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on May 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Sunflower: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi NE, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Sweet corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around West Falmouth
Mostly: Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Pitch Pine Barrens; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.04 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.13 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 53% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How West Falmouth ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 62nd | 70th | 64th | 72nd |
| Massachusetts | 80th | 66th | 83rd | 93rd |
| Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens | 46th | 48th | 51st | 84th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 44% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around West Falmouth: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
North Falmouth 3 mi · Teaticket 4 mi · Falmouth 4 mi · East Falmouth 5 mi · Woods Hole 5 mi · Pocasset 6 mi
All towns in Massachusetts · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of West Falmouth (41.6015, -70.6393); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.